Report: Vernon Davis wants new contract

Alex Boone isn't the only one dissatisfied with his contract. Vernon Davis, who led the team in touchdown catches last year, also wants a new deal, CSN Bay Area reported while citing a source. Both Boone and Davis were absent from Wednesday's OTA practice, the only session open to the media this week.

Jim Harbaugh sloughed off the absences, noting that they are voluntary. “ That would be the reason,” he said. The 49ers's first mandatory session of the spring is a minicamp June 17-19.

Davis caught 13 touchdowns in the regular season and added two more in the playoffs. The 30-year-old tight end's salary average is the third highest at his position behind New England's Rob Gronkowski and Dallas' Jason Witten.

The NFL players association recently filed a grievance against the Saints, arguing that he should have paid Jimmy Graham the franchise tag amount for a wide receiver and not a tight end. The difference between the two is nearly $5.3 million, with the tight end tag worth $7.035 million and the receiver tag worth $12.312 million.

Davis' salary averages $7.35 million. He signed a five-year extension in 2010 and is under contract through 2015. His agent, Todd France, has not yet responded to questions about Davis' absence. The tight end has forfeited a $200,000 workout bonus by not being in Santa Clara.

With Davis absent and another tight end, Asante Cleveland, dealing with a hamstring strain, the 49ers are short on tight ends. Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Derek Carrier and rookie Kevin Greene practiced there Wednesday.

About This Blog

Matt Barrows was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Sacramento Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the San Francisco 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green. Reach Barrows at mbarrows@sacbee.com.
Twitter: @mattbarrows